DR. BERNARD J. NOTTAGE
M.P. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Opening of Carmichael
Constituency Headquarters 12th March
2002 COALITION+LABOUR COALITION+LABOUR Isn’t it wonderful
that we are able to be here tonight? Three political
parties, in opposition to the existing government, on the
eve of a pivotal national general election, have come
together, have united their efforts, and have put aside
their individual agendas for the good of the
nation. The CDR, the BFA, and the
PLM, parties opposed to the existing political establishment
are determined to show that we have the maturity, the
patriotism, and the commitment, and that we will leave no
stone unturned in our quest to rescue the Bahamas from the
clutches of those who have lost the moral right to govern
the Bahamas. This is a united effort
that so many Bahamians are crying out for, that so many have
said they want to see…All Parties which are truly
opposed to the current dictatorship, that truly want what is
best for the Bahamas, coming together. Despite potential
differences, people want to see us together for their good
and their children’s good and for the nations
good… for the good of the Bahamas! All Parties, which are
more interested in serving than in ‘lording’ it
over the people, blending their ideas, and their talents,
and their experiences, for the good of the
Bahamas! NATIONAL (FAMILY
ISLAND) DEVELOPMENT The central government has
to come to appreciate that New Providence is not the
Bahamas. Unless we create a balanced development strategy
for the entire Bahamas, we will continue to build two
separate societies. The rehabilitation of homes, businesses,
roads and utilities after the devastation of Hurricane Floyd
in 1999 was painfully slow despite the donation of almost
$5,000.000 toward the hurricane relief effort. Some persons
in Grand Bahama have permanently lost their farms as a
result of the neglect of the government. There is virtually no
economic activity in some of the family islands. In
Eleuthera, particularly on mainland Eleuthera, the large
majority of the hotels have closed leaving many Eleutherans
without any jobs or income. The government's spiteful
handling of the Cotton Bay Resort has caused much pain and
resentment to the residents of South Eleuthera. The family islands offer a
unique opportunity to promote and implement balanced growth
and development. This balanced development will not happen
without a carefully prepared national strategic
plan. The preliminary 2000
census figures show that there are 304,900 persons living in
the Bahamas, 212,000 or 69% of whom live in New Providence.
New Providence is approximately 80 sq. miles in area, and
this would mean that there are 2650 persons per sq. mile in
New Providence. Andros on the other hand,
has a population of 7615 persons or 2.5% of the total
population. The largest island in the Bahamas is
approximately 2300 sq. miles in area or 3.3 persons per sq.
mile. Obviously there must be social problems when 69% of
the people fall over each other on one of the smallest
islands, while the largest island sits just minutes away
with only 2.5% of the people. To make matters worse, in
order to support these 212,000 persons on New Providence,
thirty million gallons of water have to be barged from the
largest island fifteen minutes away, each day, to the
smallest island. Something has to be wrong with this
picture. We believe that this
social problem has to be seriously and immediately
addressed. We will give the highest priority to the
restoration of economic activity in the family
islands. If the long-term
objectives are to be met there has to be a shared vision
between the government and the citizens, creative policy
formulation, and innovative programme implementation. These
long-term objectives include: the expansion of economic
opportunities for Bahamians, the transformation of the
structure of the economy through planned diversification,
and the facilitation of broader Bahamian participation in
and ownership of the economy. We are the only party with
such a VISION
and the will to bring about these long-term
objectives. In government, we will
discourage any new large-scale tourist projects in New
Providence. Small and medium size touristic projects will be
steered to family islands such as Abaco, Eleuthera and
Andros. We will offer
Incentives to Bahamian
families and Bahamian partners to develop
eco-friendly
tourist resorts on the family islands. The government
will make crown land available to Bahamians at concessionary
rates and will assist them with access to development funds.
The resorts will also be supported with marketing assistance
as part of the Ministry of Tourism's overall market
strategy. Land Reform Policy We will institute
a
Land Reform Policy
designed to empower Bahamians with titles to land they now
occupy in the family islands. The policy will principally
entail the Bahamas Government acquiring tracts of untitled
land, vesting the land in the Minister responsible for land
acquisitions and empowering that Minister to convey the land
to the Bahamians who have occupied the land over a period of
time. We will
introduce: Reform of the
Quieting of Lands Act Seek ways to
grant titles to Commonage land to enable them to be
developed and used for commercial
purposes Coalition+Labour
is convinced that such an initiative will have the effect of
not only empowering persons to become entrepreneurs, but
also of reducing the cost of living in New Providence. The
initiative will also eventually improve the quality of life
in New Providence. Institutionalised Island
Economies A Coalition+Labour
government will
jump-start the project by relocating selected public
enterprises such as the University of the Bahamas, the Royal
Bahamas Defence Force Base and a new prison facility to
family islands where these institutions should become the
impetus for economic activity. We envision the University of
the Bahamas relocating to a Family island like Andros where
there is room for its development and expansion, and where
the students will be free from the many distractions of New
Providence. We also envision the
relocation of such public institutions, will be the
motivation for large numbers of construction workers,
utilities workers, staff, students and entrepreneurs
migrating to that island. Inter-Island
Transportation With the development of
the family islands, will come the need for Improved
Inter-Island transportation. We will facilitate the
establishment of Fast-ferry Services throughout the
Bahamas. We believe that linking the islands with safe,
reliable marine transportation will promote trade and
commerce between the islands. It will also allow, for
example, workers and students to travel from New Providence
to Andros in the mornings and return the same evening. A
network of fast-ferry services will also permit family
islanders to transport their produce to markets in New
Providence and Grand Bahama in a more efficient
manner. Air Transportation will
also be significantly improved by reorganization of
Bahamasair and the privatization/transfer of some of its
services to privately owned Bahamian owned charter air
services. This reorganization will be subsidized for a
prescribed period of time to an amount not in excess of
Bahamasair’s current losses on these routes until they
become profitable. Relocation of the Capitol of the
Bahamas We will give serious
consideration to gradually relocating the capital city
from New Providence to a family island. New
Providence will remain the business and commerce centre of
the Bahamas, but there is no need for the seat of government
to remain on New Providence. The relocation of the
parliament and the central government offices to one of the
islands together with staff and support services will have a
profound impact on the reduction of the population and
overcrowded conditions in New Providence. The concept of
Island rights includes a definition of the resources to
which an island or group of islands (so grouped for
administrative purposes) of the Bahamas would be
entitled. It would also
include: Island or Regional Development
Council These are comprised
of citizens from each island, who will, in concert with
central government officials, prepare a Development Plan
for the island or region. This plan should be prepared
after consultation with residents of the prescribed
area. A Family Island
City 1. New
Providence 2. Grand
Bahama Grand Bahama Port
Authority shares should be offered to the Council to
be held on behalf of the people of Grand Bahama. It
should be noted that despite the spectacular
development of Freeport, the western and eastern
sections of the island are still, in many respects,
under-developed like most communities in the Family
Islands of the Bahamas. This must
change. This
bustling island needs a new airport, a modern port, and
hospital facilities and should have the right to promote
itself at home and abroad to attract investors who will
help in its economic development. Farmers need leases for
the land, which they have been farming. Marsh Harbour
should be designated a City. Needs
improved tourism infrastructure, restoration of an
economic base, made up of farming, fishing, food
processing all based on modern industrialization
techniques. There should be a light industry component
and the Naval Base at Hatchet Bay should be redeveloped
as the foundation of further economic activity. Every
effort should be expended to re-open closed hotels in
North and South Eleuthera. Governor’s Harbour should
be designated a City. Exuma there
is a need for resident citizens to be able to protect
themselves from land speculators and environmental
terrorists. George Town should be designated a
City. Cat Island
needs an economy badly. There is little for people to
do. In Inagua
Morton Salt is downsizing Mayaguana
has chronic economic stagnation. Crooked
Island, Acklins and Long Cay are experiencing serious
depopulation, deprivation of significant economic
development, in fact frank negligence In San
Salvador Club Med is closed, many small satellite
businesses have folded and there is little new employment
opportunities. There are only five persons working at the
marina, which is being built. This entire
southeastern area is in serious and urgent need of
intensive economic resuscitation. Consideration
must be given to the vision expressed many years ago
by the CDR to locate the premier institution of higher
learning of the Bahamas in Central Andros. Andros is
the prime candidate for the relocation of the capitol
of the Bahamas. Community
Councils Communities such as
Carmichael should have locally elected councils, which have
responsibility for the supervision of their public
facilities, and for such matters as community policing
through local constables who live in the communities.
Indeed, as a matter of policy, we will have located in each
community housing for policemen, provided at subsidized
rates, so that they can get to know the people and the
people them and bring a greater sense of safety to the
communities. Such councils should also
be empowered to issue licences to small businesses such as
cottage industries, to create community shopping malls/ flea
markets in which space may be leased to local residents at
low rates. Local professionals can be encouraged to provide
technical advice and assistance to help small entrepreneurs
to get their businesses off the ground. They could also have
responsibility for the creation and supervision of community
centres in churches and other facilities and the conduct of
programmes for youth and the elderly. Parliamentary
Representation With the expanded
responsibilities of local Government, and its introduction
to New Providence, and with the creation of Community
Councils, we can then reduce the number of constituencies
and consequently the number of Parliamentary representatives
from the current forty to nearer thirty full
time. The Socio-Economic
Component Greater Bahamian
Ownership in the Economy Entrepreneurial Equity Injection
Fund Coalition+Labour
will put in place the necessary policy and legislative
framework to assure that Bahamian citizens will have greater
ownership in the economy of their own country. This will
support the Family Island Development component. Immediate
steps will be taken to encourage small business and
entrepreneurs, including the establishment within our first
budget of a $5 million Equity and Loan Fund,
expressly to support the full range of small businesses and
entrepreneurs. The capital markets will be strengthened and
improved and your Coalition+Labour
government will allow citizens to be able to own government
bonds and notes, while providing incentives for start-up and
existing businesses to utilize the capital markets to raise
necessary funding. Entrepreneurial Skills
Acquisition Fund Coalition+Labour
will also provide funding for Bahamians interested in
developing their entrepreneurial skills and for those small
businesses, which require assistance in organizational setup
and planning.
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